Bilateral trade

Argentina, China sign mining, train agreements

Argentina and China have signed ARG$ 140 million investment and cooperation accords to carry out prospecting operations in Argentina, in order to boost the mining trade and develop investigation tasks.

Also, an ARG$ 38 million deal was signed with the Chinese government for the launching of prospecting activities in the province of San Juan, according to Mining Secretary Jorge Mayoral.

Meanwhile, the Argentine government also signed deals for a total credit line of $ 22 million for mining projects with San He Hopefull Grain & Oil Group Co. Ltd to carry out prospecting operations in the province of Jujuy

The Argentine government also signed deals for a total credit line of $ 113 million for transportation projects with Eximbank (the Export-Import Bank of China). The agreement includes the acquisition of 24 railway engines and 160 railway cars made in China.

The other deal was signed with the CITIC Bank Corporation Limited and China Construction Bank to extend an $85 million credit line for subway car, according to official sources.

The agreements were signed by several government officials and Chinese authorities as part of the official visit to China.

Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana arrived in Beijing on Monday as part of the official trade mission to China to attend negotiations rounds and participate in investment and trade forums.

The Argentine delegation is composed of Mining Secretary Jorge Mayoral, the Secretary for International Trade, Luis María Keckler, and Argentine businessmen, who will hold several meetings with their Chinese counterparts in order to increase the trade, investment and business opportunities between both nations.

On January 20, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced she decided to postpone her business trip to China, because she did not "want to leave Vice-President Julio Cobos" in her place.